My daughter loves 3rd grade. Although they have daily homework that is harder than 2nd grade, she takes it as a challenge and gets frustrated but happy when she's done with it. Cursive handwriting is something they love to do although for us parents, it may seem not to be the most legible thing right now - but let them be. Let them have fun with it. I think we should give them time to grow and relax but making sure they finish their work as well. So far, so good - i should say :)

My oldest son is in the 3rd grade and it is quite different than 2ond!! Luckly in our school they still get science, art and music weekly. They also study science in class twice a week. It sounds like your school is focusing on the subjects tested on the CRCT. I would discuss this with the principle!! It's not right for the students to focus only on these limited subjects!

3rd Gr is very challenging for my daughter. She has Art & Science, too. Math is harder!!! She's getting tired of Math homework everyday. She learned in cursive in 2nd Gr because she wanted to learn. Now, they're in the process learning in cursive in class. I talked to some parents in her class & their kid is struggling in 3rd Gr with math, spelling, etc. I'm just keeping all my questions for teacher/Parents conference and let my daughter adjust in 3rd Gr. She always get A's on her test in 2nd Gr & now her grades are dropping.

I am actually in Illinois, a tiny school district - check them out, www.golf67.net. There are less than 600 kids, I think, in k-8. My son has 16 kids in his class for 3rd grade. My 8th grader is in a freshmen algebra class with 7 other kids. It is like individual education, and is WONDERFUL! We came from a more urban district and it is like night and day. We gave up a lot to move here, big house, etc, but we all have never been happier!!

Wow, yours is quite a challenge with full time work outside the house. My daughter is very bright but struggling with her cursive writing. I wish I had taught it to her over the summer 'cus they just assume it in third grade and even her teacher writes in cursive on the board. She had quite a bit of trouble trying to understand what's written on the board without knowing cursive writing. She is getting the hang of it now except for letter "F"! Interesting that your child had sililar problems. Yes, it is frustrating not to have music, poetry and history as part of the curriculum. My daughter finally said they started doing science in her class after two months of school! I'm happy about that and hope that they continue to do it even though they are not tested in it for the star testing exam.You could think about Charter School but check out how good the teachers are.

I think you are right about giving time and space to your child to grow and develop normally without giving any labels like ADHD. My daughter used to be very shy and I read (a little too late) that if the mom keeps giving that as an excuse not them not responding then the child believes thats what they are and falls into a pattern they might otherwise have come out of gradually. I stopped saying that and it has made a difference. If you don't mind my asking, which school district are you in? And how do you get your school district to move the curriculum up by a whole year? Is'nt the curriculum the same for all public schools in CA? My daughter is very advanced for her class and may turn out to be gifted (they decide that after the third grade results of the star testing comes out). She definetely needs more of a challenge but we don't want to move her up a whole year as she would be with unfamiliar kids and she thrives in familiar surroundings. We have been considering moving or just waiting to see what happens by the end of third grade and then consider moving. I'd appreciate any thoughts you may have. Thanks for your response!

My son is doing well although I always worry. Since pre-school, teachers have been trying to lable him as ADHD. I just see him as brilliant and a little eccentric, what geniuses aren't, right? What I can say is that he's young. He turned 8 on the first day of school but was blessed this year with a teacher who has a great deal of experience with children like him and she's helping him to keep himself under control.

Our school district actually moved their curriculum up a year, so my son's doing more things that a 4th grader would do, on top of it, he's in advanced math, which is technically 5th grade level. Yesterday he brought home algebra problems for homework. He's expected to master his multiplcation facts in about a week or so, but he has a great attitude about it, so far.

My son's class activites are basic essentials. I am now picking up the books to teach my child poetry, music, history and science. I work 48 hrs a wk and still have to find time to educate my child. Handwritting is another challenge because they don't spend time teaching our kids how to properly hand write but yet the teachers will deduct for "sloppy handwriting". That to me is not fair. I am seriously thinking Charter School may have more to offer my son.